Water & Natural Resources

Water in Colorado

Since Territorial days, Colorado water rights have been recognized as valuable assets which must be vigilantly protected. The “business of water” is an important source of value to buyers and sellers – one which requires special expertise. Managing water through acquisition and thoughtful transactions, protection of water quantity and quality, and understanding the system of environmental best practices and regulations are among the wide variety of issues facing the owners of water rights in Colorado.

Our water rights team:

Dietze and Davis lawyers have successfully represented clients in many complex transactions and litigation relating to water rights, working to resolve a host of water right and water quality issues as part of our overall natural resources practice. The firm’s clients include municipalities and special districts, farmers and ranchers, mutual irrigation ditch companies, financial institutions, developers and a wide array of other water users. The firm has experience representing clients in matters involving water rights acquisition, water rights litigation, sewer and storm drainage discharge requirements and compliance with water quality standards under state and federal law. Our practice also includes significant experience developing and managing hydroelectric power in Colorado and across the Western United States.

Our water rights and natural resources team brings more than 70 years of practice experience to work for our clients:

Star L. Waring

Karl F. Kumli

Mark D. Detsky

Gabriella Stockmayer

Areas of practice:

Our water rights practice encompasses the entire range of issues affecting water right owners in Colorado and across the West:

Purchase, sale and leasing of water rights, including interruptible supply contracts

Water right portfolio creation and development

Water rights title investigation and water title opinions

Practice before the Colorado Water Courts in all seven divisions, including coordination of applications for appropriations of tributary and non-tributary water rights, water right change cases, augmentation plans, exchanges, diligence proceedings and abandonment proceedings

Monitoring and opposition of water court applications to protect valuable water right decrees

Appellate practice before the Colorado Supreme Court (for water matters) and before the Colorado Court of Appeals (for water-related matters)

Well permitting and adjudication, including administrative proceedings before the Colorado State Engineer, administrative proceedings before the Colorado Ground Water Commission and issues involving gravel pit operations

Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District applications and land inclusions, including the purchase and sale of Colorado Big Thompson Project (CBT) units

Disclaimer: The information obtained at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. Content is general information only and does not create an attorney-client relationship. You should consult an attorney for specific advice regarding your individual situation.